SPINAL PATHWAYS FOR NICTITATING MEMBRANE REFLEXES IN THE CAT

Abstract

The afferent spinal cord pathways for reflexes of the nictitating membrane were studied by recording nictitating membrane responses to sciatic and brachial stimulation under urethane anesthesia after localized lesions of the cord in both acute and chronic preparations. The pathways were found to lie in the lateral columns and to be approximately equal both crossed and uncrossed. Crossing was found to take place at the level of entry of sciatic roots and no further crossing was demonstrated between this and the lower level of the sympathetic outflow of the nictitating membrane.